Let's turn our Bibles to the word of God.
We're turning this morning to the Psalm 60.
I'm going to read all 12 verses. Psalm 60.
Let's hear the word of God. We're reading, of course, from
the Authorised version, most faithful and reliable
translation of the Holy Scriptures.
Translation that saw revival in our land.
The words that come up on the screen for all who are online
this morning. Psalm 60, Let's hear the word of
God reading from verse one. Oh God, thou has cast us off.
Thou hast scattered us. Thou hast been displeased.
O. Turn thyself to us again, That
was made the earth to tremble. Thou hast broken it.
Heal the. Breeches thereof, for it Shaketh
that has showed thy people hard things.
That was made us. To drink the wine.
Of astonishment. That was given a banner to them
that. Fear thee.
That it may be displayed because of thy truth.
Cedar that thy beloved may be delivered.
See if with thy right hand, and hear me.
God has spoken in His Holiness. I will rejoice.
I will divide Sheckem and meet. Out the valley of Sucketh,
Gilead is mine and the NASA is mine.
Eve Frame also was the strength of mine.
Head Judah is my law giver. Moab is my wash pot over Eden
will I cast out my shoe? Felicitia triumph though,
because of me. Who will bring me into the.
Strong city. Who will lead me into Eden?
Wilt not thou? O God, Which?
Has cast us off. And thou, O God.
Which didst not. Go out with our armies.
Give us help from trouble for. V and is the.
Help of man. Through God we shall do
valiantly. For he it is that shall tread
down our enemies. Amen.
We know the. Lord will stamped with his own
approval and blessing this reading of his own precious and
infallible word amongst us today.
Now this morning my text is taken from Psalm 60 verse.
One and have entitled a subject, a prayer to God, to see of
Ulster, now the majority. Of us, if not all.
Listening to me preached. The word of.
God today would agree that this we province of Northern Ireland,
this we please we call home or the province of Ulster.
It's in terrible bad shape. It's in bad shape politically.
It's in bad shape culturally and economically and morally and
religiously and spiritually. Now I have a question for.
Us And it's this. What is the answer to ulsters
woes and troubles? At this time.
Let me tell you what the answer's not.
The answer's not in politics, not in any political party.
Ulster's answer is not in an economic revival and the removal
of the Irish Sea border that so wickedly has been imposed upon
us by the British government at the behest of the Irish
government and the European. Union.
In the pretext of getting breakfast done, it has done
damage to us economically and constitutionally.
I want to tell you the answer is not us trying to be morally good
and deal with all the moral ills of the day.
That's a part of the answer, but that's not the right and real.
Answer. I want to tell you even the
prayer Revive us. You know, the answer is not even
in a religious revival. We we all want the House of God
filled again on the day of God. We want people to come in their
hundreds and thousands to worship the living and the true
God. Now that's a component.
Part of the answer. But that's not the real and the
right answer. The right answer is not even of
all the professing people of God.
We're motivated by the spirit of God.
I'm thinking of the Church of the first born.
If if they all got right with God and sin was put away and
they were really and truly loving the Lord with all their
hearts, soul, mind and strength and loving their neighbours,
their self, that's an important aspect of life here in Northern
Ireland. That's a component.
Part of the answer. But not the right and real
answer. So what is the right and real
answer this morning for Northern Ireland's woes and Troubles?
If you look at Psalm 60 verse. One you've got the.
Answer and Psalm 60 verse one. What do we read?
Look at Psalm 60 verse one. Let's read it together.
It says this Psalm 60 verse one. Oh God, thou has cast us off.
Thou was scattered. Thou was being displeased.
Oh, turn thyself to us. Again.
Do you see those words who turn thyself to us again?
That's the answer to Ulster's woes and troubles.
Here's a prayer to. God to save.
Ulster, you see, the Samus is addressing God in prayer.
He is facing up to the real and root problems in the land of
Israel. And he says, oh God, thou has
cast it off. Thou has scattered us.
Thou has been sore, displeased. Oh, turn thyself to us again.
Is not a powerful prayer, is not a persistent prayer.
Is that not a a practical prayer dealing with the woes and
troubles that he's facing? See the word.
TURN is used 400 and. 594 times in the authorised version. 55 of
them are in the book of. Psalms.
And look at it. Oh, turn thyself to us again.
It's not turn us. It's not about us turning to the
Lord. It's not even about the Lord
coming to our hardened, backsliding hearts and and
motivating us to turn to Him. That's important.
That indeed is needed. A backslidden people turning to
him and repentance and faith. But but this, this prayer's much
more than that. Oh turn.
Notice the next word, thyself. You see God as pictured as being
at a distance from his people. It's as if God has withdrawn
himself. It's as if He's withholding his
presence and power and and and provision and protection from of
his people. We need the the Lord to turn.
Again, to us, that's what the Samist had in mind.
And that's a prayer that's often found in the.
Lips of the Samist. He prayed, Turn thee unto me,
and of mercy. Upon me and Sam. 25 and verse
16. He prayed in Sam 69 and in the
verse 16. Hear me, O Lord, for thy loving
kindness is good. Turn unto me according to the
multitude. Of thy.
Tender mercies Here's a. Prayer that was often.
On his lips. It was not just turn us and he
prayed that three. Times in Sam 80 Sam 80 verse 3,
Sam 80 verse 7 Sam 80. Verse 19 turn.
Us but it. Wasn't just turn us, it was.
Turn thyself to us again and then any.
Prayer that you want to offer for the.
Church of the First Born, Any prayer for the country.
In Northern Ireland. Ears of prayer to prayer, a
prayer to God to save Ulster. Oh, turn.
Thyself to us again now three things that came to me in
relation to this sound. One, David, is facing the
reality of coming change. Look at the words.
That was cast as off, that was scattered us, that was being
displeased. Very important picture emerging
here. Now let's think of the context
cause that's. Very important in Psalm 60
Psalm. 60 You know was written after the defeat.
Of the Syrians. And the Edomite armies.
And that battle took place in the Valley of Salts.
So this is a Psalm of victory. This is a Psalm of pre, is a
Psalm of celebration, a Psalm of rejoicing.
How do I know that? Even though that's not the
picture in verse one, you see David is facing the reality of
coming change. Look at the title.
The title of the sound to. The chief musician upon Shushan,
Edith Mick Tam of. David to teach when he strove
with. Aram Nahar Ain and with Amram
Zoba when Joab returned and Smote of Edum in the valley of
salt 12,000. Now you see this title.
I believe this is an inspired title, and in the Hebrew Bible
the title actually forms the first verse.
Of the Sam. Think of this specific purpose.
Notice the words here to the chief musician.
Upon Shushan Edith Mektam of. David to teach the word mektam
means golden. Here's a a precious.
Truth. Like, like a golden nugget.
Something that's to be prized, something that's to be
possessed, something that's to be counted, precious.
Something that's to be engraved in the heart of mind.
Here's a Psalm worthy of note, A Psalm that's designed to
instruct and a Psalm that's designed to to teach.
Remember what the Apostle Paul? Told us there and Romans chapter
15 and in the verse 4. Now whatsoever things are
written the four time are written for our learning that we
through patience and comfort of the scriptures might of hope and
in First Corinthians chapter 10, verse 11 he said Now all.
These things happened. Unto them for examples, and they
are written for our admonition, upon whom the end of.
The world are come. The word admonition means new
austethema. It means to put into the mind
and you see one of the features. Of the Psalms, what they were
written to be sung. But singing is not just about
other praise and offering praise.
It's another purpose. And part of the purpose in
singing is teaching. And our hemology should reflect
and be rooted in good theology. Here's a golden truth for the
heart and mind of the people of God.
We fill our mind with who God is and what he's like and what he
does for his people. He's a God who sees.
He's a God who helps. That's the specific purpose.
Notice the specific place if you look again at the title.
Two places. Are mentioned when he.
Strove with. Amram Nahar Aeen and with Amram
Zoba. Now we'll pause there.
Where are these two places? Here's the answer.
They're in Mesopotamia, whereas. Mesopotamia, if you look at a
map, a Bible. Map.
It's the land of Iraq. And you see, you've got to think
of these two places located between the Tigris River and the
River Euphrates, because Amram Zoba, he occupied the territory
to the western side of the River Euphrates.
And there were ancient times. There was a battle took place.
There was fighting there the armies of the children of Israel
under David and one of his generals, General Joab.
And they fought the Syrians and fought the Edomites in this
territory. And the battle took place as far
down as Mesopotamia and. There was a specific period, it
says, when he. Strove with.
And then it says when. Joe AB returned.
And Smote a Vedum in the Valley of Salt 12. 1000 Now you turn in
your. Bible with me there to Second
Samuel chapter 8. Let's read the Word of God,
Second Samuel chapter 8 and verse three.
It says Second Samuel 8 and verse 3.
David. Smote also Haddad Ezer, the son
of. Rehob.
King of Zoba. As he went.
To recover his border. At the river Euphrates now, do
you see the location I'm telling.
You this is where. Amram Zoba is it's right down at
the River Euphrates. And if we read also in this
second Samuel chapter 8 we read in verse 12 of Syria.
And of Moab. And of the children of Ammon.
And of the Philistines. And of Amalak and.
Of the spoil of Haddad Ezer son of Rehob king of Zobab, and
David got. Him a name when he returned from
smating the Syrians in the valley of salt, being 18,000
men, and he put garrisons in Eden.
You see, David got him a name. And over there in.
Second Samuel chapter 10 and in the verse six we read Second
Samuel chapter 10 and in the verse six let's hear the word of
God. And when the children of Ammon
saw that they stank before David, the children of Ammon
sent and hired the Syrians of. Beth Rehab.
And the Syrians of Zoba, 20,000 foot men.
And of King Macca. 1000 men. And of Ishtab 12. 1000 men and
when, David. Heard of it?
He sent. Joe AB and all the host.
Of the mighty men he seen King. David here was subduing.
The nations. All around him, he was defeating
the enemies as far away as the land of Mesopotamia.
He was dealing with the Syrians, He was dealing with the
Edomites. And the land had a period of
rest and victory and rejoicing, it says in Second Samuel 7 and
one. And it came to pass when the
king sat in his house, and the Lord had given him rest
roundabout from all his. Enemies.
Joab at that. Time had Smote 12. 1000 in the
Valley of Salt, David. Smote 18,000.
Now think of our United Kingdom if we talked.
In our history. We could go back to.
The days of the Protestant Reformation, 31st of October
1517. Martin Luther, you've got to
think of the monk. That's the world.
We could also talk this morning of the famous Battle of the
Boyne in the 1st of July. 19. 60 Where King William defeated King
James, William and Mary were crowned John monarchs.
They were crowned under a Bill of Rights known as the.
William H Settlement. And I want to point out this
morning that's one of the most important documents in the whole
history of the Western world. Do you know that that document
is central to our freedom, our laws, our way of life?
Do you know that that document became the basis for the
Constitution? Or latest states of.
America, do you know this morning that's why King Charles
can't arrest any of us and Putin's in jail?
You see, the King King Charge is not above the law.
King charge is not an absolute monarch.
I've told you this before, he's a constitutional monarch.
Why? Because of the Williamite
settlement. William and Mary were
constitutional markets. Monarch.
The king lives to serve the people, not be.
Served by the people. And did you know that as far
back as 16? 90 There were special Sabbath.
Days to remember the battle of the boy.
To thank God. For the William H Settlement.
Even in the other times at John. Wesley's day, Charles having
Spurgeon's day. They they.
Marked. The William H Settlement.
On the 5th of November, and they thank God for the arrival of
William and Mary. To the shores of England because
that William H settlement give us the freedom to worship.
That's why we have freedom to worship today.
That that's why you didn't fear coming through the gate, that
you're going to be arrested, hauled off to jail, the freedom
of the press. The freedom of the judiciary
from governmental interference. Let's remember our freedom's not
free a price. Had to be paid for that freedom.
And of course that price was the.
Shedding of blood. And while that's true in the
battlefields of human history, if we come to Calvary, think of
the Lord Jesus to whom the sun? Sets free as free indeed.
On what basis does he set as free?
The basis is the. Shedding of us precious blood.
Without the shedding of. Blood.
There's no remission and recently in the history here in
the United Kingdom we've saw history in making because we.
Witnessed on our television. Screens.
King Charles been crowned. You know that Coronation takes.
US back to Bible. Times the supplications.
That were offered the songs that were sing, the scriptures that
were read, the symbolism that was used, all referred and dated
back. To the days of David.
The days of Solomon, when the people cried as he was crowing.
Long live the king. We can come.
Forward even further. Think of Days of Revival 1625 in
Northern Ireland 1850 Nine 1920s, the 19. 50s and the 1960s
when when God moved you. See if you read Second Samuel
chapter 8 verses 3 to 13 and I urge you to do that.
It ties us into the. Period it.
Ties us into the place. It ties us into the purpose of
when Psalm 60 was written. Now there's that strange.
Language that after the. Title.
If it's inspired by the Holy Ghost, and I believe it is,
isn't it strange language that David uttered?
Oh God, that was cast us off. Thou has scattered us, thou has
been displeased. Or turn thyself to us.
Again, you see, David is foreseeing and facing up to the
reality of coming change. He knows it's not always going
to be like this. He knows there's a time we'll
come when we will face changes and challenges, when things will
be difficult, when things will be despairing.
Now I wonder this morning, is that true?
Of you, you see, David realised. I not always enjoyed the
presence. Of God I not always know the
power of God. I know always enjoy the God's
protection or God's. Provision.
You see, there's a. Strange language to.
Us. But it's very sensible.
David is facing up to the reality of change now.
Now think with me. How is it for Ulster today, in
the 21st century? Where's the Times of?
Reformation Now I would go as far as saying we need a second
reformation in Ulster. A reformation of rediscovering
the word of God and its authority and power
rediscovering of the gospel. Where are the days of revival?
16251850 nine 1920s Where's people flocking again to the
House of God in the day of God to hear the word of God?
Where's the. Recognition and the rejoicing.
For the William X. Settlement, as I've talked
about, that brought in a constitutional monarchy and gave
us our freedom and laws. Where's the fear of God now?
In northern. Ireland, See, see, Abraham
prayed. I perceive that the fear of God
is not in this. Place.
And I'm sorry, but you only have to go up, Sandy.
Row and. Into the Shankill.
Or or or going to wrath cool or up to the.
Branul. And you'll discover the fear of.
God is not in this place. There's no dread.
Of God there's No Fear of God is not the beginning of wisdom.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, knowledge
of the holy. Is understanding.
Where's the? Sense of loyalty and.
Commitment to the banner of the cross, to the personal work of
the Lord Jesus is the C word, not a missing word in the
vocabulary of many. Where's Where's the spiritual
love for the Lord? As I said last week in a sermon,
the the the the love of God is like the little girl who says
that she loves broccoli but not enough to eat it.
And many pay lip service to God and the things of God.
Where's the passion? For the souls of man is he David
foresaw a day of change. A day when they would be
scattered. A day when God would cast them.
Off people not united, people divided.
He even said in some 60 verse 3 Thou has showed thy people hard
things that was made us to drink the wane of astonishment.
It is not that the. Story of the.
True Church and earth, Days of the right hand of God.
Days. And it seems that the hand of
the Lord is against us. Days of rejoicing, but now days
of. Ridicule and rejection.
See, we can look back to the past, even our recent past.
1951, when the free pristine church started, the 60s and the
70s. God seemed to be at work and
Ulster New churches were being formed.
Multishoot of souls have been saved.
People were flocking to the House of God.
They they, they, they were practical rafters.
I remember Tommy Gilmer telling the story of what happened in
Porta Vogue. How that the late Doctor Paisley
preached and souls received, and then he went to the manse for
tea and there was other souls came and knocked in the door,
and then when he was about to leave there was a knock at the
door again. And said there was.
Hundreds of people at the Port of Oakley car park that weren't
meant to have a service that they but wanted to have a
service and something over that weekend 38 souls.
Came to faith in Christ. And we could add Ballymena and
what happened down there? We could add Tandrugee and what
happened there. We could go to the warm country
and what happened down there. But times are.
Not like at night. There's a day of coldness.
The day of. Dearth has come.
We're at a low point. Why?
Because there's No Fear of God. There's no thought of God or
regard of God. And we only have to look into
our own so-called nominal Protestant loyalist communities.
There's a love for self. There's a love for money and
possessions. There's a love for booze and
drug addiction. There's a real lack of God.
There's a rejection of God. There's been a forsaking of God.
There's been a forgetting of God.
And that's why you've got someone when.
GB News was on the television as a live coverage at the 12th,
someone actually swearing on television demarling Foster
having to apologize. That that's why you've got
people. Burning averages of living
people in bonfires. And it's wrong and it's sinful.
Why? Because you've No Fear of God,
that's why you've got these people running about drunk.
Because there's No Fear of God. There's a lack of God's
presence. Power, protection, provision,
and we need the Lord. And the Sam was recognised.
Yes, I'm bachelin and I'm cold and I I need to turn to the
Lord, but I need the Lord to turn himself to me.
And that's what he's praying. He's foreseeing the reality of
common change very quickly. He's focusing on the.
Reason for this coming change look.
At look at Sam 60 verse one. It says thou hast been
displeased. See that we're displeased.
It's used 24 references in the Bible.
What displeases God. Let me just suggest very
quickly. The sin of murmuring displeases
God. And when the people complained,
it displeased the Lord, and the Lord heard it, and his anger was
kindled, and the fire of the Lord burned among them and
consumed them. That we're in the uttermost part
of the camp. You've got to think of the
children of Israel coming out of Egypt.
You'd think they'd rejoice. They'd been redeemed by the
Precious Blood. Moses was their leader as a man
of God. They come out into.
The wilderness. And they complained and.
Murmured. They had nothing.
To complain about. Their murmuring was rooted in
their covetousness. It was rooted.
In their loss for what they had in Egypt.
It was. It was rooted in their
ingratitude. And remember in First
Corinthians chapter 10 and verse 10 that says neither murmur ye.
This was Paul's advice to the Corinthians as.
Some of them also. Murmured and were.
Destroyed of the Destroyer. And all these things happened
unto them for examples, and they're written for our
admonition, upon whom the ends of the world had come, the sin
of murmuring against God, questioning his wisdom, his
love, his power, his goodness, his doings, forgetting that God
is absolutely sovereign. Forgetting that God is Creator
and Maker, Forgetting that God is in charge, forgetting that
we're dependent and accountable to Him.
This is what Daniel 435 says. And all the inhabitants of the
earth are reputed as nothing. And He doth according to his
will in the army of heaven and among the inhabitants of the
earth, and none can stay his hand or say unto him, what dost
thy the sin of memory. He's focusing on the reason for
this coming change. The sin of murmuring has come
in. What about the sin of?
Immorality over there and Samuel and Second Samuel in in Chapter
11. We read this in the verse 27,
Second Samuel Chapter 11, verse 27.
Let's hear the word of God once again and when the morning was
passed. David sent and fetched her to
his house, and she became his wife and bare a son.
But the thing that David had done displeased the Lord.
Do you see that? Here's the sin of immorality.
David and Barceba. Breaking the Law of God.
Adultery, Cover Up and lies, Murder, drunkenness.
A lot of gross sins are violating and breaking God's
law. Could add the little sins as
well, whatever. David did it.
Displeased the Lord. And you'd think of the
immorality in Northern Ireland at this moment in time.
Gross sins, little sins. Remember whenever Aiken came to
Jericho, the very first study that the children of Israel were
to conquer all the soldiers were told.
All that's in here belongs to the Lord.
Don't take anything. What did he take?
The Babylonious garment. 200 seconds of silver, a wedge of
gold. And they were defeated when they
come to the second city at a I. Why?
Because there was a hiding of sin and the Lord saw it.
And the Lord sees the sin that goes on in Northern Ireland at
this minute. I want to tell you something
else. He's just pleased because of the
sin of pride over there and First chronicles.
Chapter 21 and verse seven. We read these words and God was
displeased with this thing wherever he smote Israel.
What was this thing? It was David's sin of pride and
numbering the people. There was a failure at that time
to follow what God had commanded.
The devil was at the back of it. Look at first Chronicles,
chapter 21, verse one. It mentions the devil.
It was the devil that motivated and moved David.
Was the seat of pride in his heart.
How many soldiers do we have in the army go and number them Joe
from down to perceive a number them all.
Joe knew it was wrong. Joe didn't even count them all.
He left out leave. I left out Benjamin.
You know when he got the leave And Benjamin?
They told him clear off. They're not going to number us
now. We want none to do with it.
Why? Because there's a trespass here.
What about the half shackle of redemption for every soldier in
the land? If you're going to count them
all, clack the half shackle of redemption and they refused to
do it. You see, the Lord was
displeased. Here's the perception.
David had a. Failure to deal with the sin of
parade. And is there not a spiritual
perception today that there's many things in Ulster displeased
the Lord? Let me tell you one other thing.
Look at Mark. March, chapter 10, verse 14.
It says. But when Jesus saw it, he was
much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children
to come unto me, and forbid them not for of such as the Kingdom
of God. Much displeased because the
disciples didn't want the little children to be brought to the
Lord Jesus, he said, Suffer the little children to come unto me
for such as the Kingdom of God. Here's their treatment of the
children. We don't want them to be near
Christ. And how many parents don't want
their children to come to Sunday school or our children's
meetings? And I want to tell you that
children are suffering. What about the evil of abortion?
It's the murder of the unborn. We need to be more vocal.
What about this evil of RSE? Relationship, sexualised
education. And I want to tell you, it's
horrendous what the UN have proposed, and it's horrendous of
what our Secretary of State has introduced already through an
act of parliament into Northern Ireland and it's coming here in
September. What about the evil of
drunkenness and drug abuse? What about the evil of cursing?
What about? Men being lovers of themselves,
lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God.
I love for money and possessions and possession, but not loving
God, living and rejection of him, living without him, not
knowing him, not worshipping him.
I want to tell you there's a call for repentance, there's a
call to put sin away, and I'm calling on the loyalist people.
I'm calling on the nominal Protestants in these areas to
repent of their sin and get right with God.
I'm calling on them to turn to the House of God on the day of
God. I'm calling on the preachers in
the pulpit to stop preaching woke nonsense and start
preaching the gospel, the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son
of. God, we need to get back to the
Bible. We need to get back.
To the worship and the way and the will of God.
For us as creatures. In his presence.
Because what's the first thing that man should learn?
Man's chief end as to what is to glorify God and enjoy him
forever. Glorify God and enjoy him
forever. That is the chief.
End of man. And that's a message that we
need to fundamentally get across to our people at this time.
Here's the reason David faced up.
To the reason for the coming change, God is displaced.
And why are things are? The way they are in Northern
Ireland, could it not be that God is displeased?
The sin of murmuring, the sin of immorality, the sin of pride,
the sin of the. Treatment of the children.
One final thing, the following the remedy for coming change.
What did David do? He prayed.
It's a prayer. Includes praise to God,
remission of sin, asking for things yielding one's heart,
being earnest and effectual, receiving in the ground of
redemption. You see, if you notice this
word, turn thyself to us again. Think of the word.
Again, God has done it in the past and we Northern Ireland God
sent 3 revivals 162518591920 and our prayer should be.
Lord, visit us again and. Not not just revive us, but turn
thyself to us, come into the midst of us, and I bring about
the fear of thee. Because we've only one to help,
and that's the Lord I want to. Tell you our help.
Was not in man or in schemes our help?
Was not in churches. It's not in politics.
It's not in history. It's not in.
Education. Do I believe in education?
Or people ought to. Be educated.
It's certainly. Not in archaeology, I.
Have to get back to God. Start with him.
Because he's the only one who can help us.
If you want help and. Trouble.
Then you've got to go to the Lord.
Isn't this what he prayed in? Psalm 60 verse 11?
Give us help from trouble. Do you pray that prayer?
Give us help from trouble. For vien is the help of mom.
The word vien means anti. And God will help us from
trouble, not only in it, but from trouble.
Because the Samus was done to say through God we shall do
violently. For he it is that she'll tread
down our enemies. And the biggest enemy we have is
the enemy of sin. We've got to face up to that
enemy first. Let's recognize that among our
people today there's the sin of murmuring pride.
The morality and sin of badly treating the children.
Let's start there. If God is displeased with these
sins. Then let's repent of them, and
let's cry unto him. Give us help from trouble.
Things need to change. Things need to.
Improve. The late I didn't know used to
say to me. Where can I go but to the Lord?
And where can Ulster go? Ulster.
Can only go to the Lord and it's up there.
Has people, has random. People those those faithful?
Ones whom God has has spoken to and dealt with to cry unto him.
End prayer. Who turn thyself to us again.
And if you want to pray a prayer to help Northern Ireland, then
you start with that prayer this morning.